Method of and means for removing foreign gas from condensers



July 19, 1927. 1,636,512

G. HILGER METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR REMOVING FOREIGN GAS FROM CONDENSERSFiled Nov. 28, 1925;

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- 2AM w PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HILGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METH OD OF AND EEANS 170R REMOVING FOREIGN'GAS FROM CONDENSERS.

Application filed November 28, 1923. Serial No. 677,388.

The invention has general reference to the art of refrigeration and moreespecially to condensers such as are used in refrigeration systems. Inthe practical operation of such systems it is inevitable that certainforeign gases will find their way into the system through leakingstufiing boxes and through the combustion of lubricating oil in thecomressor' and it becomes necessar therefore to relieve the systemperiodically of such for.- eign gases. The method commonly em ployed isto cut ofi the condenser from the system pressure and open a relief orblowoif valve at the upper portion of the con-' denser to permit theescape of such gases. This consumes, as will be apparent, a relativelylarge amount of time during which the system might otherwise remain inoperation.-

The primar object of this invention is to provide for t e release offoreign or noncondensible gases from the system without necessitatingany interruption in its operation, and preferably without requiring any5 special su ervision on the part of the attendant, t e operation beingautomatic in character.

A general object is to provide a means or apparatus of a practicalcharacter for accomplishing this result.

I have shown in the accompanying draw-,

ings one embodiment o'nlyof my invention but it is contemplatedthat'various changes may be made by'those skilled in the art withoutdepartin from the spirit and scope of the appende claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a fragmen tary elevation section of acondenser having applied thereto an automatic gas releasing meansconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the valved venting port indetail. Z I have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate as my invention isapplicable particularly to the condenser. The latter, designated generally by the numeral 3,,comprises the usual .COllS 4. Communicating withthe uppermost coil is a chamber 5 into which such gases as do notcondense in the condenser are free to pass. As herein shown, theconnection between theecondenser and the chamber 5 consists of a pipe 6and connection; 7. Above the upper coil of the condenser I have shown awater pipe 8 from which jets a complete refrigeration system inasmuchpressureof water discharge over the condenser and constitute a coolingmedium. Similarly I provide a water pipe 9 over the chamber 5 having jetopenings in its under side adapted to discharge cooling water upon thetop and sides of the container.

The chamber 5 is made of substantial length and at its lower end may beprovided with a drip pan 10. It will be seen that this chamberconstitutes a receiver for the air and other gases which arenoncondensible under the conditions existing in the condenser 3, andthat the pressure in the receiver is the same or approximately the sameas that which exists in the condenser.

v At the upper end of the chamber or receiver 5 I provide an outletopening 11 which in the present instance is connected by means of a pipe12 and a passage 13 with a valve casing 14 of a relief valve mechanismwhich is arranged to be operated by a pair of temperature responsivepressure elements or thermostats designated generally 15 and .16.

Each of said thermostatic elements comprises a two-part casing 17 or 17divided by means of a diaphragm 18 or 18. The casing 17 forms upon theupper side of the diaphragm a chamber 19 which is in constant phragm 18in the casing 16 forms with the lower section of the latter a chamber 19which communicates by way of a port 21 and fitting 22 with the upper endof a serpentine coil 23 also sealed at its lower end and charged withammonia gas at a suitable Both pressure elements age charged at the samepressure; but 16w enough to prevent condensation under normaltemperature conditions; The lower portion of the diaphragm casing 15,and the upper portion of the casing 16, areformed in the presentinstance integral with a tubular member 24 constituting a guide for, apair of plungers 25 and 25' operatively connected together by a link 26.Thus pressures in the chambers 19 and 19 are directly opposed to eachother through the diaphra ms 18-18' and the aforesaid connection terebetween through the plungers -25.

The passage 13 into which the pipe 12 leading from the receiver 5discharges, .is formed in the lower part of the casing 15, and the valvecasing 14 is screw-threaded into an aperture in the lower part of saidcasing 15 so as to communicate with said passage 13. In the casing 141provide a seat 27 for a valve member 28,sa1d seat being formed at theupper end of a passage 29 communicating at its lower end with a chamber30 in which operates a piston 31. Rising from said piston 31 is a valvestem 32 which passes loosely through the passage 29 an'd ngages at itsupper end the valve member 28; and rigid wlth the lower end of thepiston- 31 is an'upstanding arm 33 pivoted at its lower end as at 24 toa lever 35 which is fulcrumed at 36 in one side of the tubular member34. To receive the lever 35 a slot 37 is formed in said member, and theinner end of the lever is pivotally connected to the link 26 as at 38.The outer end of the lever carries an adjustable weight 39. The chamber30 in the casing 14 has a port 40 in one wall thereof which is at alltimes in communication with the up er end of the chamber 30 through theme ium of a small groove 41 in the periphery of the piston The operationis as follows:

The condensation of the ammonia gas passing through the condenseroccurring in the region of the inserted end of the pipe 20,

and the resultant giving 01f of latent heat" of vaporization, serves tomaintain the gas in this pipe at a substantially constant temperature.Accordingly a constant pressure is maintained in the upper diaphragmchamber 19. For convenience, a gau e 42 may be provided in the pipe line20 at 1ts upper end to'indicate this pressure.

The noncondensible or foreign gases, as is usual in the operation of thecondenser,

pass into the upper portion thereof, and

in the present instance are conducted by the pipe'6 into the receiver 5.It will be observed that these gases are subjected not only to thecooling effect of the water discharged by the pipe 8 but also to thecooling effect of the water 'dischar ed from the pipe 9 above thereceiver. onsequently, the temperature of the gases collectin 1n theupper portion of the receiver 5 w ich containsthe coil 23, falls to apoint lower than the temperature; of the gas in the pipe 20 and'chamber19. As a result the pressure of the'gas acting upon the diaphragm 18 iscorrespondingly lower than the pressure of the gas acting upon thediaphra 19, the pressure in the chamber 19' eing conveniently indicatedby a gauge 43. Normal- 'ly. the weight 39 is so pro ortioned and ad- Ias justed that it will, in ad ition to counterbalancing theweight of thepistons 25-25 and associated parts, maintain a predeter.

gases from the upper end of the receiver through the roove 41 an oove41. As the cooler gases escape, relative y warmer gases which are nowermitted to enter the receiver from the con enser efle'ct an increasegipe 12, passa es 13 and E29,

port 40 to t e atmosphere.

uch escape of gases, however, is made verygradual by limiting the sizeof the in pressure in the coil 23 and chamber 19' such as to effect aclosing of the valve 27. As will be seen, the arrangement is such thatif any of the ammonia or other gas em ployed finds its way .into thereceiver 5 and is t ere condensed, it may return to the condenser. l

If desired, the receiver 5 and-the condenser 3 may be provided withthermometers 44 and 45 arranged to record the temperatures in the upperportion ofthe receiver zrndl in the region of condensation respecive y.

It will be seen that I have providedv for the automatic release offoreign or noncondensible gases from a condenser in a thoroughlypractical manner, avoiding the necessity of interrupting the operationof the system and thus insuring that the condenser shall at all timesoperate unrestricted by noncondensible (gases collected in its upper endportion an hence with increased 'efli ciency.

In the appended claims the term noncondensible gases is used todesignate such gases which under the conditions existing in thecondenser do not condense.

I claim as. my invention:

1 1. The combination with a condenser, of a receiver for noncondensiblegases communicating With'the upper portion of the the condenser andreceiver to a cooling' medium, and valve means operatively as ciatedwith and arrangedto be controlled by said pressure elements to permitthe escape of gases from the receiver when the temperature of the gasestherein falls below a predetermined point. y Y a 2. The combinatio witha condenser, of

a cooling chamber communicating with the receiver arranged to becontrolled by said valve means.

3. A means for releasing noncondensible gas from a condenser comprisinga cooling chamber constituting a receiver into which such gases arearranged to pass from the condenser, a pair of thermostatic elements responsive respectively to the temperature of the condenser in the regionof condensation and to the temperature of the gases in the receiver,said elements being arranged in opposed relation, and valve meansoperatively associated with and'controlled by the said elements wherebywhen the temperature in the receiver falls to a predetermined pointbelow said condenser temperature, gases are permitted to escape from thereceiver.

4:. A means for releasing noncondensiblegas from a condenser comprisinga cooling chamber constituting a receiver into which such gases arearranged to pass from the condenser, a pair of thermostatic elementsresponsive respectively to the temperature of the condenser in theregion of condensation and to the temperature of the receiver, saidelements being arranged in opposed relation, and valve meansop'eratively associated with and controlled by the said elements wherebywhen the temperature in the receiver falls to a predetermined 'point be-I low said condenser temperature, gases are permitted to escape from thereceiver, said thermostatic elements each comprising a casing having adiaphragm and a tubular member communicating at one end with the casingand having its other end surrounded by the gas or -fluid whosetemperature is to be taken.

5. A means for permitting the escape of foreign gases from acondenser-comprising, 1n comblnatlon, a pair of casings each having adiaphragm therein to form a pressure chamber, said diaphragms beingarranged in opposed relation, a tubular member having one end insertedinto the condenser in the region of condensation and its other endcommunicating with one of vsaid pressure chambers, a second memberhaving one end enclosed in the noncondensible gases of the condenser,means interposed between. said diaphragms' whereby the pressures intheir respective chambers oppose each other, and valve means operativelyassociated with and arranged to be actuatedin the movements of saiddiaphra ms and means providing an outlet passage rom said receivercontrolled by said valve means.

6. An apparatus of the character de-' scribed comprising, incombination, a re-- ceiver for gases dischar ed from a condenserarranged to be sub ected to a cooling medium, a pair of pressurechambers, a member between said chambers whereby pressures in therespective chambers are op-. posed to each other, a tubular memberconnected with one of said chambers and having a portion thereof subjectto the temperature of'the gas in the condenser in the region ofcondensation, the second tubular member communicating with the other oneof said chambers and arranged to be subject to the temperature of thegases in the receiver, each of said elements having a temperatureresponsive substance therein, and valve means operatively associatedwith the member between said chambers so as to permit the escape ofgases from the receiver when the temperature thereof falls below apredetermined point reducing the pressure in its corresponding pressurecham- 7.YAn apparatus of the character described comprising, incombination, a pair of thermostatic elements respectively responsive tothe temperature-of the condenser in the region of condensation and tothe temperature of non-condensible gases, each of said elementscomprising a diaphragm, means for transmitting pressure from onediaphragm to the other, a venting port t Du 8. In an apparatus of thecharacter d'escribed, a pair :of casings each havinga diaphragm therein,a tubular member between said casings, means slidable in said member andarranged to transmit pressure from one diaphragm to another, a leveroperable by said means, a valve arranged to be actuated by said. lever,and a Weight .on said lever for opposingpressure on one of saiddiaphragms. i

9, A means for releasing non-condensible gas from a condensercomprising, in combination, an outlet from the condenser, a valve membercontrolling said outlet, and a pair of pressure responsive elementsmechanically connected to said valve member and tending to move itin-opposite directions.

10. A means for releasin gas from a condetermined temperature differencebetween densible gases, means for varying the temperature of thenon-condensible gases as they accumulate, and valve means arranged to beactuated under the control of said elements to permit the discharge ofnon-con-v densible gases to the atmosphere.

12. A means for permitting the escape of non-condensible gases from acondenser comprising, in combination with an outlet for suchnon-condensible gases, a valve controlling said outlet, means forvarying'the temperature of-said gases as they accumulate, and meanscontrolled by the difference in the temperatures of the condensible andnon-condensible gases of the condenser to actuate said valve.

13. A means for releasing non-condensible gas from a condensercomprising, in combination, an outlet for the non-condensible gas, areciprocatory valve member controlling said outlet, devices responsiverespectively to the temperatures of the condensible and non-condensiblegases in said condenser, and an operating lever connected to said valvemember and to each of said devices.

14. The combination with a condenser, of a'separate chamber forreceiving the noncondensible gas accumulatin in the condenser, a meansfor cooling t e gas in said chamber, and means responsive to apredetermined temperature difference between said chamber and condenserfor intermittently discharging the non-condensible gas.

15. A .means for discharging non-condensible gases accumulating in acondenser comprising, in combination, a receiver for the non-condensiblegas communicating with the condenser, an outlet from said receiver, avalve controlling said outlet, means for cooling the gas accumulating insaid receiver, andmeans responsive to a predetermined difference betweenthe receiver and condenser temperatures for opening and closing saidvalve.

16. A means for intermittently discharging non-condensible gas from acondenser comprising, in combination, a separate receiver for thenon-condensible gas accumulating in said condenser, an outlet from saidreceiver, means for cooling the gas in said receiver, and meansresponsive to a pre said receiver and condenser for opening said outlet.v

17. A means for discharging non-condensible gas from a condensercomprising, in combination, a receiver for the non-condensible gas, anoutlet from said recelver, a valve adapted to permit a restricted flowof gas from said outlet, and means responsive to a predetermineddifference in tem-' perature between said condenser and re- I ceiver foropening said valve.

18. The method of intermittently discharging a non-condensible gas froma cham ber supplied with a mixture of non-condensible and condensiblegases which consists in cooling the mixture to a temperature at whichall of the condensible componentfi of the mixture will be condensed out,further cooling the non-condensible component, and releasing thenon-condensible component when a predetermined temperature differencebetween the non-condensible compo- 35 nent andthe incoming mixture hasbeen reached.

19; The method of intermittently discharging non-condensible gas from achamber supplied with astream containing noncondensible and condensiblegases which consists in cooling the stream until all of the condensiblegas has been removed, further cooling the non-condensible as and slowlyreleasing the non-condensib e gas ,when a predetermined temperaturedifference between it and the incoming stream has been reached.

.20. The method of removing a. foreign gas from condensible gas in agaseous system which consists in separating the foreign gas from thecondensible gas by cooling themixture of condensible and foreign gasbelow the boiling point temperature of the condensible gas at thepressure with N5 I in the system so as to condense out said condensiblegas, collecting the foreign gas and effecting a further cooling thereof,and discharging the foreign gas when the differ.-

ence between the temperature of the foreign I gas thus collected and thetemperature in the system reaches a predetermined limit,

21. A means for discharging foreign gas from a system containing amixture of gases comprising, in combination, a separate chamber forreceiving the foreign gas accumulating in the system, means for coolingthe gas in said chamber below the temperature of the other gases in thesystem, and means responsive to' a predetermined tem- 2 peraturedifference between said chamber and said system for intermittentlydischarging the foreign gas.

n testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

. GEORGE HILGER-

